It’s the height of holiday shopping season and you have a runner on your list. Here are a few suggestions to add cheer to your athlete’s day.

What do puppies and running shoes have in common? They both make really bad Christmas gifts. It’s never a good idea to surprise someone with a new puppy on Christmas morning. And, much as runners love shoes, it’s not a good idea to put a pair under the Christmas tree.

Runners do love shoes, but they usually love the ones currently cradling their feet the best. There’s no guarantee that the same brand (or even a duplicate model) will have the identical feel.

Instead, give a gift card to your runner’s favorite running store so they can find the perfect fit. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to tag along on the shopping trip.

You can run in just about any clothing, but why wouldn’t you want comfort and safety? Most runners I know have tons of t-shirts, but would appreciate a gift of runner-specific clothing such as reflective vest, breathable fabric jacket or warming socks. Remember to include a gift receipt since apparel sizes can run small.

Some runners won’t take a step without music. Create a playlist in your runner’s favorite music genre that lasts at least as long as their weekly long run.

Songs with rhythm in the range of 120 to 140 beats per minute are ideal for general workouts. You can figure out BPM yourself or download a mix within those parameters.

You can’t run all the time. You have to eat and drink, too. Assemble a running-themed gift basket for a quick pre-run breakfast — peanut butter, jelly, breakfast bars, instant oatmeal, etc. or post-run recovery — chocolate milk boxes, packaged cookies, crackers, or vegetable chips, lower alcohol beer (over age 21, please), cheese or meat sticks.

Don’t overlook convenient meals for busy runners. Look for pre-cooked and seasoned grains such as quinoa, wild or brown rice. There are plenty of nutritious sauces and soups for comfort and warmth against winter’s chill.

Rest goes well with recovery. A gentle massage following a long training run speeds recovery and a sports massage in the week prior to a big race can boost performance. Visit a few establishments to be sure they have experience working with runners before purchasing a gift certificate.

You can’t run 24/ 7. Give a gift subscription or renewal to a running or fitness magazine. Many publications are now available in digital form as well as print.

Reading a good book is the antidote to our social media/ headline-driven information age. If your runner is performance oriented, a training guide such as Owen Anderson’s Running Science or Hansons Half-Marathon Method: Run your Best Half-Marathon the Hansons Way will offer motivation for spring training.

Running isn’t all about the legs. Dig deeper into the psyche of running with The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life by Amby Burfoot or New York Times bestseller What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. Or check out the re-released classic Running and Being by the late running sage George Sheehan.

It’s hard to read a book together, but how about a movie? The film Unbroken, the incredible true story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini, debuts this Christmas. Or choose from one of running.competitor.com’s list of the 25 Greatest Running Movies Ever for movie night at home.

Don’t forget the most priceless and treasured gifts (not just for runners) — the gifts of companionship, support, motivation and acceptance. Then maybe you can pick out that puppy together after the holidays are past.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Winter weekly run. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Dec. 13, 10 a.m.: Jingle Dash 5K, Ellwood City. 724-601-7754 or sdesandzo@zoominternet.net

Dec. 13, 10 a.m.: Snowflake 5K, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Beach 1. 814-774-3209 or dan.a@erierunners.club

Dec. 13, 10 a.m.: Jingle Bell Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Costume themed run. Also kids Tinsel Trot at 9 A.M. and 1 Mile Run/ Walk at 9:30 A.M. 412-250-3342 or lwaltman@arthritis.org

Dec. 20, 11 a.m.: Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K and Kids Fun Run, Volant. Out and back course on country roads. Gift wrapped presents to winners. 724-456-2373bonnherb@yahoo.com

Dec. 31, 3 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1 mile fun run. Out and back through historic Harmony. Part of New Year’s Eve celebration. 724-452-3149 or saltemus@zoominternet.net

Dec. 31, 4 p.m.: Twilight 5K Run, 2 Mile Run and 2 Mile Walk, Holidaysburg. Run through the lights at Lakemont Park. tkunstbeck@hollidaysburgareaymca.org

Jan. 1, 10 a.m.: ERC New Year’s Day 5 Mile Race, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park’s Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dan.a@erierunners.club

Jan. 11, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Miler, North Park. Starts at North Park Lodge. 412-490-0881 or events@eliterunners.com

Jan. 19, 10 a.m.: Bushwacker’s Nightmare Trail Run, South Park. Choice of 5K or 10K starting at South Park Fairgrounds. 724-348-6012 or bmcglothlin@hotmail.com

Race results

Race for Pace 5K, Oct. 18: Daniel Lipus, 1st Overall M, 17:29; Natalie Finnerty, 1st Overall W, 19:32; Bob Lafon, 2nd 50-59 M, 28:55; Kim Kenetz, 3rd 40-49 W, 38:53; Jaunalee Schuabenitz, 31:36; Wendy Bennett, 44:15

Columbus Marathon, Oct. 19: Meshack Kirwa, 1st Overall M, 2:16:04; Lauren Woodring, 1st Overall W, 2:41:24; Wayne McCracken, 3:14:41; Brian Thomas, 3:18:40; Melissa Schaeffer, 3:18:59; Darryn Zawitz, 3:19:50; Don Polito, 3:24:19; Todd Allman, 3:26:13; Robert Waltrip, 3:41:29; Joseph Wuenshell, 3:53:50; Gillian Scott, 4:03:00; Traci Hanna, 4:23:45; Brittany Minett, 4:28:19; Lewis Minett, 4:28:19; Heidi Underwood, 4:50:30; Bipin Salunkhe, 4:50:45; Nancy Thenthongkham, 4:52:33; Abhijit Dixit, 4:55:44; Ajay Belambe, 4:58:27; Andy Drexler, 5:26:31; John Ropelewski, 5:33:42; Stephanie D’Abarno, 6:16:26; Nicholas Minto, 6:58:20

Kittanning YMCA Fall Classic 10K, Nov. 8: Jeremiah Wagner, 1st Overall M, 37:56; Noah Bowser, 2nd Overall M, 38:09; Jocelyn Johnston, 1st Overall W, 47:04; Nichol Murray, 2nd Overall W, 53:33; Jocelyn Ursiak, 3rd Overall W, 57:03; Kaleb Burke, 1st 10-14 M, 56:23; Marcy Mann, 1st 40-49 W, 57:12; Tammy Sarver, 1st 50-59 W, 59:47; Cole Remaley, 2nd 10-14 M, 1:00:42; Katie Furman, 2nd 30-39 W, 1:01:08; Debra Kuminkoski, 2nd 50-59 W, 1:02:19, Emma Eisenbrandt, 2nd 20-29 W, 1:05:17

Kittanning YMCA Fall Classic 5K, Nov. 8: Nathan Goldner, 1st Overall M, 18:19; Seth Eismann, 2nd Overall M, 20:39; Heather Siegler, 1st Overall W, 21:46; Chris Chavira, 1st 10-14 M, 21:16; Margaret Hollobaugh, 1st 10-14 W, 24:55; Rebecca Hollobaugh, 2nd 10-14 W, 26:32; Bob Augustine, 3rd 50-59 M, 29:17; Thomas Hollobaugh, 2nd 40-49 M, 29:55; Dez Csizmadia, 2nd 60-69 M, 30:53; Cindy McCrea, 2nd 40-49 W, 33:53; Christine Stull, 2nd 20-29 W, 41:09; Tyler Yaskula, 23:41; Owen Valasek, 27:35; Jacob Bosco, 30:16; Danielle Geidel, 30:30; Jodeann Yurimski, 40:05; Michael Geidel, 40:11; Stephen Geidel, 41:30; Delaney Garmer, 42:58; Jesse Allen, 45:34; Katie Johns, 49:33; Tammy Johns, 50:17

Fight for Life 5K, Nov. 15: Doug Basinski, 1st Overall M, 19:17; Tricia Varner, 1st Overall W, 19:57; David Fugate, 1st 50-59 M, 22:02; Dawn Brahler, 1st 40-49 W, 26:22; Robert Zukas, 1st 70+ M, 28:32; Deb Fugate, 27:22

Know Turkey Trot 5K, Nov. 15: Dawson Steele, 1st Overall M, 20:42; Emily Milford, 1st Overall W, 22:13; Fred Weaver, 1st 30-39 M, 21:09; Karen Carmichael, 1st 40-49 W, 25:50; Tonya Theuret, 3rd 30-39 W, 25:59; Meghan Farley, 1st 20-29 W, 26:30; Jessica Lauer, 3rd 20-29 W, 27:35; Hailey Theuret, 3rd 12 & Under W, 33:46; Jolene Ion, 3rd 40-49 W, 45:57; Drew Keth, 30:40; Chrissy Shirey, 32:11; Payton Johnston, 33:45; Tenlee Myers, 38:31; Cooper O’Neil, 44:19

Philadelphia Marathon, Nov. 23: Dan Vassalle, 1st Overall M, 2:17:27; Leonora Petrina, 1st Overall W, 2:39:58; Joel Sterniak, 3:06:56; Mark Berger, 3:35:01; Tim Carter, 3:57:09; Jinny Hertweck, 4:32:06; Maxwell Widdick, 5:09:13

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle